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Russia Launches Major New Telescope Into Space

Associated Press

   MOSCOW - Russia's space agency says a Russian Proton-M rocket has
   successfully delivered a cutting-edge space telescope into orbit after
   days of launch delays.

   Roscosmos said the telescope, named Spektr-RG, was delivered into a
   parking orbit before a final burn Saturday that kicked the spacecraft
   out of Earth's orbit and on to its final destination: the L2 Lagrange
   point.
   Lagrange points are unique positions in the solar system where objects
   can maintain their position relative to the sun and the planets that
   orbit it.
   Located 1.5 million kilometers (0.93 million miles) from Earth, L2 is
   particularly ideal for telescopes such as Spektr-RG. If all goes well,
   it will arrive at its designated position in three months.
   If Spektr-RG reaches L2 successfully, it will be the first Russian
   spacecraft to operate beyond Earth's orbit since the Soviet era.

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